Jane Harman: “this has been a long day in a needlessly partisan fight. I support Trade Promotion Authority and have voted for it in…”

“this has been a long day in a needlessly partisan fight. I support Trade Promotion Authority and have voted for it in the past. The bill I voted for in 1998 is not as good as the text before us today. I represent a trade-dependent district, and understand very well why trade helps our economy. But context matters. Our country was in a serious economic recession before September 11, and now faces enormous hardships just as the holiday season arrives. Forty-one thousand workers are out of jobs in the communities surrounding Los Angeles International Airport. Their airline and airport-affiliated jobs evaporated in the aftermath of 9-11. Workers first, Mr. Chairman. Those workers and those negatively impacted by September 11 and trade must be helped first before we pass TPA. I support the package of worker benefits that the House leadership supports: $20 billion for unemployment, health insurance and worker training. The President has told me he supports it too. My wish was that working together we could vote and pass it first as evidence that we would keep our promises to workers. Sadly we didn't. Sadly I can't support TPA today until we do.”